Empowering People To Change

Where the Jobs Are

Usually people associate dining out with fun, pleasure and a relaxed atmosphere. All true statements until you are trying to land a job while going out for lunch. Candidates normally asked themselves why an employer would want to conduct an interview over a meal. There are many reasons why. The hiring manager may not want the office to know they are interviewing for a certain position. The position may require heavy client interaction and business meetings and not only are you being considered for the position but also you are being observed on how you perform in an open environment. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, but in an extremely tight job market you the candidate need to be prepared.
Here are a couple of Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind.

The Do’s
 Shut off your cell phone – I know it’s very tempting to check you blackberry or phone but resist temptation. Even if your interviewer is checking their phone do not check yours.
 Learn the Restaurant – Find out something about the restaurant that can be associated with something you are interested in. Engage your interviewer about the restaurant ask a question “Have you been here before?” “What do you recommend?”
 Inquire about your interviewer – You need to break the ice, ask questions such as “What do you like most about the company?” “How did you get your position here?”
 Keep your guard up – Remember this is an interview not a social setting. Keep focused on what’s at stake. Some companies will send an employee that is similar in age and background that will try to possibly stay something that you should not have.

The Do Not’s
 Talk Excessively – Better known as the pregnant pause used by interviewers. When you are done answering a question do not fill the open air. It is interesting what is said when someone is nervous.
 Being Late – Whether it’s for an in office interview or lunch interview always arrive about 15 minutes early.
 Rude to Restaurant Workers – This rank’s number one as the biggest blunder. Be polite to your waiter/waitress. Be patient and keep you focus on why you are there.
 Your Ordering Taste – Keep in mind the price of the items on the menu. Ordering the most expensive item. Skip dessert and only order coffee if the hiring manager is having something. This shows that you are fiscally responsible. Beware of what you order. Order something that you need to use a fork, and stay away from onions and garlic.

Following these easy to remember tips will help you land your new position. Lunch interviews just added some more complexity to the hiring process. Also always do your research on the company and be prepared.

With mortgage rates dropping at a record pace, homeowners are going in herds to financial institutions to refinance their homes.

This is very similar to a decade ago which led to the real-estate boom.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported about 80% of all mortgage applications are for refinancing. The average 30 year fixed mortgage rate is 4.73% which is down from 6% about a year ago. Wells Fargo recently reported improved results as a result of the increase in mortgage applications writing over $101 billion in mortgage loans for the quarter which is the most since 2003.

There was an increase of 52% in first quarter profit as a result of the increase in the workload it required them to recruit to approximately 5,000 employees to assist with the volume. Wells Fargo believes that this rush will continue through the next quarter.

Not every homeowner will experience savings due to the high refinancing fees. Others are converting their adjustable mortgage rates with fixed fee rates. Many homeowners are seeing a decrease in their home values which makes it unattainable to refinance their homes.

The U.S. government has put in place programs to lower interest rates and increase the housing market. An example of this is The Federal Reserve announced late last year that they were buying mortgaged backed securities.

The government programs were put in place to help the struggling housing market, encouraging homeowners to refinance, and help them from foreclosing on their homes. Also, it would improve the economy as well as helping financial institutions boost profits.
Thus, financial institutions are having difficulties in expediting refinances on a timely basis due to the rush for homeowners to refinance.

Empowering Movement in the Job Market

           With many people we are surrounded by stress and it compiles daily in our lives. We start our day with stress just figuring out what to wear and forget about trying to get a quick cup of coffee at the local Starbucks. Stress in the workforce is a harmful and emotional response that occurs when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the workers. 

Stress can lead to greater health risk later on in life. Stress affects virtually every organ in your body from your heart, blood vessels, immune system, lungs, digestive system, and sensory organs. A stressed filled life greatly increases our risk for heart attack and stroke. This is especially significant for people over the age of 40 which I am and also being a Black American. Stress in the begin may act as a boost in strength in the short run but overtime stress takes a great toll on the body. It is now believed that constant stress puts much strain on our arteries, causing chronically high levels of stress hormones and pushing people to maintain unhealthy habits like smoking, over eating, or drinking. Men who are stressed out are doubling their chances of having a stroke then their peers.

These results carry slightly over into women but they are found to not suffer from strokes as much. Women are actually more susceptible to stress then men which lead to many problems with their sleeping, eating, and routine habits. To relieve stress many simple things can be done to significantly lower your stress level. One of the main ways to lower stress levels surprisingly is laughter. Putting on a funny movie, going to a comedy show, or just having a good time with friends is a fantastic way to reduce stress daily. We should also treat ourselves and find other outlets to relieve stress. For some with more severe stress should look into yoga or meditation. It seems easy to say you do not have enough time to handle your stress. Change the way you look at things and handle life different.

If you are struggling financially or whatever the stress in your life may be take 5 minutes out of your day to cool down and take a deep breath. Reflect on the positive things in life and the good things around you. Close your eyes and visualize success and empowerment.

During the holidays I am thankful for my Health, Happiness, Family, and friends. I wish you all the best and pray you are empowered by my articles and you land a life changing career position.